Steven Ireland faces being frozen out at Villa Park

Daily Telegraph informs Aston Villa playmaker Stephen Ireland’s career at the club is under threat as he was frozen out and instructed to train with the youth squad by his manager Paul Lambert.

Ireland has recently been voted the fans’ player of the season however Aston Villa boss Lambert reckons the player has been showing an unprofessional attitude and improper complacency in the match against fourth-tier Bradford in the Capital One Cup semi-finals. Ireland has not featured in the first XI following the second leg last month.

Ireland has been dropped out of the squad that played Everton on Saturday and was spotted watching the game that finished 3-3 from the stands. Lambert has signed midfielder Simon Dawkins and Yacouba Sylla to push Ireland out of contention.